Abstract: A hot wheel protection valve arrangement including a hot wheel protection valve, the hot wheel protection valve including a body defining a passageway, a piston slidably positioned within the passageway, a bushing positioned on the piston and within the passageway, a first diaphragm provided on a first end of the piston, the first diaphragm defining a first chamber in the passageway, a second diaphragm provided on a second end of the piston, the second diaphragm defining a second chamber in the passageway, a third chamber being defined between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, and an exhaust port defined in the body and in fluid communication with the third chamber, a brake cylinder line that establishes fluid communication between a brake cylinder, the first chamber, and the third chamber; and an emergency reservoir line that establishes fluid communication between an emergency reservoir and the second chamber.

Abstract: A brake cylinder maintaining system produces a brake cylinder reference pressure based on the difference between the brake pipe pressure and the auxiliary reservoir pressure and then feeds that pressure to a choke and a volume so that the ratio of the reference area of the choke to the volume of stored brake cylinder reference pressure is substantively equal to the ratio of a brake cylinder charging valve area to the brake cylinder volume. The resulting reference pressure may be used to adjust brake cylinder pressure by providing the reference pressure to a standard quick service limiting valve or to a relay that can selectively charge or exhaust the brake cylinder.

Abstract: A synchronizing brake device for a vehicle is provided with a first brake, a second brake, a synchronizing brake operating lever that synchronizes and operates the first and second brakes, an equalizer that distributes the control force of the synchronizing brake operating lever to the first brake and the second brake, a hydraulic master cylinder that generates hydraulic pressure for operating the first brake and first brake control force transmitting member which transmits control force from the equalizer to the hydraulic master cylinder and which is configured by a synchronizing member operated by the equalizer and a knocker that presses the hydraulic master cylinder by the operation of the synchronizing member. The knocker is provided with a knocker operating lever that can press the hydraulic master cylinder by being directly operated without depending upon the synchronizing member.

Abstract: A method for regulating the brake pressure in an electronically controlled brake system for a motor vehicle. According to the method, an activation event results in an active pressure increase in a brake circuit. The activation event may result in no active pressure increase in a brake circuit in certain situations in which the braking effect of the active pressure increase is not required. Also disclosed is an electronic brake system.

Abstract: A service valve piston assembly for a freight brake control valve device in which the graduating valve is configured to cooperate with the associated slide valve to close off the application port via which auxiliary reservoir pressure acting on one side of the piston assembly feeds the brake cylinder prior to opening of the stability port via which the brake pipe pressure on the opposite side of the piston assembly is communicated with auxiliary reservoir pressure on the one side of the piston, thereby preventing the piston valve assembly from finding a quasi-lap position in which the brake cylinder continues to be pressurized.

Abstract: A freight brake control valve device for a railway vehicle having a service piston slide valve arranged with a detent to latch the service piston in preliminary quick service position until such time as the application pressure differential acting on the piston exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A brake pressure control valve for regulating the braking pressure in the trailer brake system of a tractor-trailer vehicle, so as to develop the trailer brake pressure to a preset level ahead of the braking pressure in the tractor brake system during a pilot phase of brake operation. The preset level of this advance trailer brake pressure can be selected by an adjustable member that forms a part of the auxiliary valving that controls the point at which the pilot phase of operation is terminated. A limit stop is cooperatively arranged with this adjustable member in order to provide a means for limiting the point beyond which the auxiliary valving is activated, to thereby prevent the advance trailer brake pressure from exceeding a specified safe maximum value.

Abstract: An integrated pressure exhaust valve and pneumatic coupling is used on a truck trailer for bringing air brake pressure from a tractor to the truck trailer. A gladhand coupling moiety is used for quick connection with an identical coupling moiety on the air pressure hose from the tractor. A check valve mechanism is incorporated in the body of the trailer coupling moiety for permitting air flow to the brakes when pressure from the tractor is greater than pressure in the trailer brake lines, and for permitting air flow from the brake lines to the atmosphere when pressure from the tractor is decreased. The integrated pressure exhaust valve and pneumatic coupling moiety can be mounted on the front of the trailer where it is found that pressure exhaust valve placement is most effective.

Abstract: A radio communication control system for a lead unit and a plurality of remote units is disclosed. The system has a protocol for establishing a communication link between the lead unit and the one or more remote units in the system which prevents any of the units in that system from processing messages or commands from other units in other train systems or processing messages or commands originating from units within a train system which are addressed to other units within the system. The communication system also includes a communications channel contention system for minimizing the probability of multiple units transmitting on the common communication channel at the same time and for insuring that the highest priority communications in each train are transmitted first in time measured from the end of the latest transmission on the radio communications channel.

Abstract: A pneumatic brake cylinder device employs a pair of different sized fluid motors, the pressure chambers of which serve as air storage reservoirs. The cylinder of the larger fluid motor is formed by the main casting and contains a larger piston, while the cylinder of the smaller fluid motor is mounted to the main casting in coaxial relationship with the larger cylinder and contains a smaller piston having an elongated hollow body that is connected at its open end to one side of the larger piston to form a pressure chamber therebetween. The smaller piston fits within the smaller cylinder in spaced-apart relationship therewith to form a pressure chamber delimited by a seal fixed on the main casting for engagement with the piston periphery at any point along its longitudinal axis. The larger piston cooperates with the larger cylinder to form pressure chambers on opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: Brake apparatus for a railway vehicle including a brake cylinder device of the type having a pair of interconnected pistons to which the vehicle brake rigging is connected, the larger piston having a pair of chambers formed on opposite sides in which air is stored, and a control valve device that is operative responsive to a reduction of brake pipe pressure to connect pressure from the one side of the larger piston to a corresponding side of the smaller piston to effect movement of these pistons to a brake application position and concurrently vents pressure in the chamber on the other side of the larger piston. A transfer valve device is provided to interrupt this exhaust of pressure from the chamber on the other side of the piston until the piston has moved to application position so that the chamber volume is minimal and thus renders a minimum amount of air exhaust sufficient to produce brake applying pressure differentials across this larger piston.

Abstract: A fluid brake control system is disclosed for governing application and release of brakes of an interchange vehicle having a brake control pipe, an auxiliary fluid reservoir, a fluid brake cylinder, and a brake control device sensing changes in fluid pressure in the brake pipe for at times governing application of fluid to the brake cylinder from the auxiliary reservoir and at other times for releasing fluid from the brake cylinder. Additional first and second volume chambers are provided that are proportionally smaller in volume than the auxiliary reservoir and brake cylinder displacement volumes respectively. Valve governed passageways are provided for normally charging the first volume chamber from the brake pipe and for preventing fluid flow from the auxiliary reservoir to the first volume chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel railway vehicle brake apparatus that comprises a brake cylinder device having two tandem-connected pistons of unequal size, the larger of which is provided with a check valve and cooperates with a hollow cylindrical body in which it is slidably disposed to form on its respective opposite sides two fluid pressure storage reservoirs wherein is stored fluid under pressure for effecting a brake application. This brake apparatus further comprises a novel brake control valve device that is so responsive to a reduction of pressure in a train brake pipe as to first cause simultaneous shifting of both pistons in a brake-applying direction and a transfer of fluid under pressure from one side of the larger piston to the other until a chosen braking force is transmitted through brake rigging to press brake shoes against the wheels of a vehicle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel railway vehicle brake apparatus that comprises a brake cylinder device having two tandem-connected pistons of unequal size, the larger of which is provided with a check valve and cooperates with a hollow cylindrical body in which it is slidably disposed to form on its respective opposite sides two fluid pressure storage reservoirs wherein is stored fluid under pressure for effecting a brake application. This brake apparatus further comprises a novel brake control valve device that is so responsive to a reduction of pressure in a train brake pipe as to first cause simultaneous shifting of both pistons in a brake-applying direction and a transfer of fluid under pressure from one side of the larger piston to the other until a chosen braking force is transmitted through brake rigging to press brake shoes against the wheels of a vehicle.

Abstract: A fluid brake control system is disclosed for governing application and release of brakes of an interchange vehicle having a brake control pipe, an auxiliary fluid reservoir, a fluid brake cylinder, and a brake control device sensing changes in fluid pressure in the brake pipe for at times governing application of fluid to the brake cylinder from the auxiliary reservoir and at other times for releasing fluid from the brake cylinder. Additional first and second volume chambers are provided that are proportionally smaller in volume than the auxiliary reservoir and brake cylinder displacement volumes respectively. Valve governed passageways are provided for normally charging the first volume chamber from the brake pipe and for preventing fluid flow from the auxiliary reservoir to the first volume chamber.